What lessons about obedience can we learn from the man of God’s actions? Setting the Scene The man of God from Judah confronted King Jeroboam at Bethel. God’s unmistakable instruction was, “Do not eat bread, do not drink water, and do not return by the way you came” (1 Kings 13:9). After faithfully delivering the prophetic sign, he left—but later accepted an invitation from an older prophet who claimed angelic authorization to break the original command. While they sat at the table, the LORD’s word of judgment came: “but you went back and ate bread and drank water in the place of which He said to you, ‘Do not eat bread or drink water’; your body shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.” What We Learn About Obedience • Complete obedience matters; partial compliance equals disobedience (1 Samuel 15:22–23; James 2:10). • No prophetic claim overrides what God has already spoken (Galatians 1:8; 1 John 4:1). • Each believer is personally responsible to obey God’s word, regardless of another’s influence (Ezekiel 18:20). • A strong start cannot secure a blessed finish if we abandon obedience mid-mission (2 John 8; 2 Chronicles 16:9). • God’s commands are unchanging; ignoring them always brings loss (Numbers 23:19; Psalm 119:89). • Obedience may cost comfort, but disobedience costs far more (Mark 8:34–35; Hebrews 11:24–26). • Spiritual experiences must be tested by Scripture; miracles or visions that contradict God’s word are counterfeit (Deuteronomy 13:1–4; Acts 17:11). • Consequences for disobedience can be swift and severe, serving as a public warning (Acts 5:1–11; 1 Corinthians 10:6). Echoes Throughout Scripture • Adam and Eve’s single prohibition (Genesis 2:16–17) mirrors the prophet’s: believe a contradictory voice and death follows. • Saul’s lost kingdom in 1 Samuel 15 repeats the pattern—divine command, partial obedience, prophet’s rebuke, irreversible sentence. • Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1–4) shows perfect obedience where the man of God failed, refusing bread outside the Father’s will. Living It Out Today • Keep God’s instructions visible—write, memorize, rehearse them. • Weigh every message, dream, or “word” against the settled Scriptures. • Finish the assignment before seeking rest or reward. • Cultivate fellowship that confirms Scripture rather than contradicts it. • When you stumble, repent quickly; lingering disobedience multiplies loss. |
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